The nights are growing longer, leaves are beginning to cover the ground, and the weather is turning cooler and damp. Yes, summer, or whatever it was we had to endure, has sung its last and we are now 14 weeks from opening presents and tucking into a turkey. Now the countdown begins to the festive season – and you don’t want to see us in November. Here’s why.

Not long to go now

The 14 weeks until Christmas Day will fly by. It always does. Which makes this part of the year critical for your locations. It’s from here that leaking roofs really make their presence felt. Falling leaves will quickly turn a narrowed downpipe into a blocked one, sending cold overflowing water down on your customers walking past.  Electrical systems will be loaded up with lights and displays, and any weaknesses will be quickly exposed.  Fittings will need to be in top condition to cope with the ritual hammering they get from shoppers. Signage needs to be working perfectly to shine bright ever-earlier each day. And all the Point of Sale you need to put up, often at risky heights, needs to be diarised.

They say that perfect planning prevents poor performance. It certainly goes without saying that this is a busy time of year ahead of a very busy time of year.  Preparing for the Christmas trading period is hard work. So don’t let maintenance be the reason why you didn’t have the best possible festive season.

Checking each property and fixing issues avoiding having any issues with your locations when the festive season really swings into gear.

The danger in putting maintenance off

There is the temptation to putt off any maintenance issues until after Christmas. Then, things are a little quieter, and problems can be looked into. But that is a choice fraught with risk. Seasonal weather such as high winds and heavy rain are getting more frequent. The UK has had the most named storms since 2015 when the convention began. And the damage they wreak has been increasing. Commercial property maintenance is also still recovering from the huge disruption caused by the Pandemic. Meaning many retail locations are much closer to serious issues disrupting trade than the owners realise.

Undertaking maintenance during the harshest part of winter can present problems too. Outdoor sealants and coatings struggle to cure properly in cold temperatures, while damp and frozen weather can prevent them from being effective. And of course, putting off repairing faults can make them much worse.

But the big risk is with a problem disrupting your trade at the busiest time of year. The most basic of jobs – cleaning and checking signage lighting, installing Point of Sale correctly, fixing displays and flooring – can make a major difference to your takings. And to have to close due to a burst pipe, broken heating system or dangerous electrics could spell real trouble.

That’s why we recommend visiting your retail locations right now to get them ready for Winter and the festive season. With a simple schedule of checks and repairs, you will have your retail locations ready for the busy Christmas period. Plus, you won’t have to worry so much about what Mother Nature is preparing in the coming cold, dark months.

The best part is this; once you are all ready, you can focus on all the other important jobs in plenty of time. And with your retail locations in excellent condition, you won’t have to panic about any nasty surprises. Which is why you don’t want to see us in November.

Our network of vetted contractors are standing by, ready to help you start preparing your properties for Christmas and the Winter ahead. So get in touch with us now, and let’s make the end of this year a memorable one for you.